Characteristics of teaching methods for defining variables in an investigation

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25885017
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Research Field: Education on school subjects and activities
• Research Institution: Chiba University
• Principal Investigator: OSHIMA Ryugo 千葉大学, 教育学部, 特任助教 (40700414)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-08-30 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 実験活動 / 変数同定 / 科学的探究プロセス / 認知的プロセス / 妥当性

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The aim of this study is to find characteristics of teaching methods for defining variables, which promote cognitive processes. Three different types of teaching materials were analysed and lower secondary school pupils' understanding of variables in an investigation was surveyed. Educational implication was drawn from the study that teachers should emphasise 'helping students consider the validity of a design of an investigation' but not 'helping students conduct valid investigations'.

Free Research Field

理科教育学